What we did in lockdown
During lockdown members kept touch via Zoom speaker meetings, coffee mornings, activities and Sally and Paddy put together a monthly newsletter for us .
July
We had a socially distanced meal at Greenmeadow . Our first get together since March
Sheelagh and Pat took our jewellry stall to the clothing
event that Jane Clay held to support her London Marathon run into raise funds for Alzeimers society. They took an amazing £60 to add to Jane’s total that she made that day.
June
Jessica Morden MP.
Paddy and Sally went to Caerphilly County Borough Council to 4 schools to continue our distribution of books under our STEM project which the pandemic has stopped,
May
Alison Pope from the Little Welsh Chocolate Company
March
With a glass in hand and plenty of daffodils on show we celebrated St David’s Day with readings, poetry, singing and a quiz.
At our coffee morning we celebrated the annual March 8th, International Women’s Day (IWD) which has occurred for well over a century to
celebrate women’s achievements
raise awareness about women’s equality
lobby for accelerated gender parity
fundraise for female-focused charities
February
A welcome back to John Sheen and his talk ‘4 Boys and a Pasty’ about his childhood in Port Talbot in the 1950’s.
January Robin and Chloe from Natural Weigh at Crickhowell
December 16 Days of Activism
Every year Soroptimists use the 16 days of activism against gender based violence which is an international campaign to challenge violence against women and runs every year from 25 November, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women , to 10 December, Human Rights Day.
Normally we would have had marches, events and demonstrations, wearing orange as well as social media items but this year we have just had daily powerful social media images with an appropriate message and at our December Zoom coffee morning we all wore orange.
In December Sallie and Marian also delivered 150 comfort teddies to the Grange University Hospital. Giving them to the chaplain.
November Emma Saysell from St David’s
October Julian Hayman on the new critical care hospital, Grange University Hospital at Llanfrechfa.
September Anne O’Donahue on Track and Trace
Lockdown Knitting
The ‘Lock-down knitting’ completed by members, family and friends.
included
49 Bonding Square Sets
16 Baby Gift Sets
535 Innocent Smoothie hats 20 Fish and Chip Jumper sets 7 Baby Cardigans
17 Baby hats
8 Baby blankets
2 Knee blankets
200 + Comfort teddie
These items were delivered to – Noah’s Ark Children’s Hospital, Grange Hospital, Lives for African Women, Age Concern at Widdishins, Age Concern Abergavenny.
2021/2022
Tree Planting
It was lovely to come out of lockdown and we enjoyed a visit to the Grange University Hospital walled garden on Friday,17th September. We were met by Dr. Jane Nehaul (Trustee) and Angela Fry (Secretary) of the walled garden. The sun was shining as we were given a conducted tour to view the Cherry tree that SI Cwmbran planted to celebrate 100 Years of Soroptimists International 2021.
Celebrating 100 years of Soroptimism
Anniversary Lunch 
On March 1st 2020 the club hosted an anniversary meal at Cwrt Bleddyn to celebrate their 40 years as a Club which was attended by many past and current members. The celebration was enhanced by the attendance of John Sheen and Member of Parliament Nick Thomas-Symonds who both gave entertaining after dinner speeches.
Activities over the 40 years have included race evenings, fashion shows, musical evenings, meals, afternoon teas, raffles and quiz nights. Over our 40 years we have raised over £75,000 for good causes and a further £20,000 for St David’s Hospice Care.
International Women’s Day
Later that week on 7 March our third year running nine of our members attended the International Women’s Day event at the Riverfront in Newport
Entitled An Equal World is an Enabled World. There were many groups represented with an inspirational female focus, they presented activities, workshops, demonstrations, performances, discussions and amazing guest speakers.
There was free Yoga, Zumba, Core, self-defence, massage, circus skills, dance, film screenings, vocalists, arts activity and much more all running throughout the day.
Our stall showcased the activities and the breadth of what we do. From the STEM book presented to Primary schools and the over 400 Comfort Teddies given to all the emergency services and now being extended to Primary schools. We were also able to sell our pre loved jewellery
2023
November
Members of SI Cwmbran enjoyed a coffee morning at Llantarnam Grange Arts Centre today to promote the start of ‘Orange the World 2023’ 16 Days of Activism. The club promotional board was placed in the foyer which will be left for visitors to the centre and cafe to see over the next two weeks. Thanks to Llantarnam Grange for their co-operation.
Our guest speakers at our business meeting were Caroline and Jo from Torfaen Voluntary Alliance about what they can offer the community in terms of advice and support.
October
We had a very successful and enjoyable musical evening at Ponthir Village Hall on 13 October, certainly not unlucky for us. We raised £1,118 for our Club Charities including St David’s Hospice Care and MS Society Cymru. We were entertained by the very talented Harmonize choir as well as individual artists singing, playing the harp, saxophone and piano.
At our business meeting, Richard Watkins from Age Cymru Gwent talked to us about all the scams we need to be aware of.
This month we donated small teddies to the neo-natal unit at the Grange and will be donating them to ‘Seren Dwt’.
The knitting pattern for these can be found under Sewing/knitting pattern instructions.
September
At this meeting we donated 33 drain bags and 11 comfort cushions made by members and friends which will be used by ladies who’ve had breast surgery.
July
We had a coffee morning at Rosemary’s where we put together toiletry bags for the 2 houses at the Grange hospital reserved for the parents/carers of children in the wards there. Also donated were duvet sets, towels, tea towels, mugs and pictures for the houses.
At our business meeting, by request for another talk, Rhian Morgan from the Gene Park at the Heath Hospital came to speak to us this time on the use of DNA in forensic science.
June
We had a lovely afternoon tea in Mary’s beautiful garden and could not have asked for better weather and company as well as raising money for our charities.
Our speaker at our business meeting was the former High Sheriff of Gwent who gave a talk on Local Government, but not as you know it which was very amusing and engaging.
May
Our coffee morning this month was at one of our favourite places the cafe at St David’s hospice in Malpas, where we presented them with a cheque. Over the years we have been very supportive and donated thousands of pounds from different fund raising activities.
April
0n 24 April we had our AGM where we were also pleased to induct our latest member, Pam. After the formal meeting we were pleased to welcome Sam and Rachel from New Pathways SARC (sexual assault referral centre as our speakers who talked to us about their work and the people they support.
We have been giving teddies to them since 2018 and presented them with some more.
March
At our March meeting Juliet and Pam talked about their work with Caring Canines and the benefit the dogs bring to children in nurseries through to the elderly in care homes. Juliet and Pam were also accompanied by Kate the dog.
St David’s Hospice Care has for many years been our ongoing charity and since 1990 we have donated nearly £22,000 since then and in March Sallie donated 20 comfort bears to them.
We celebrated St. David’s Day at the Grange University Hospital Walled Garden. We enjoyed a Coffee morning with Welsh cakes and Bara Brith while raising money for the Walled Garden. Thank you to Jane Nehaul for the welcome and keeping us warm and cosy in the greenhouse.
Other events
Click on the links below to find out more about what we’ve been doing
Membership Morning
Bras
Visit to St Davids